Milk strainer for separator supply cans



Oct. 27, 1953 w. H. HARSTICK 2,656,928

MILK STRAINER FOR SEPARATOR SUPPLY CANS Filed Nov. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ll/illi'am/ H. Hcu'siiclo BY P Q Q Oct. 27, 1953 2,656,928

W. H. HARSTICK MILK STRAINER FOR SEFARATOR SUPPLY CANS Filed NOV. 21, 1951 2 Shets-Sheet 2 I JIQL ENTO llflllm Harstwk PQA QQPA PTQQ. y

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 MILK STRAINER r grg sgmnA'ron SUPPLY William H. Harstick, Oak Park, 111., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 21, 1951, Serial No. 257,453

Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved milk strainer assembly. More particularly the invention relates to a milk strainer which is adaptable for use with the supply can of a cream separator.

In a centrifugal separator the supply can for supplying milk to the separating bowl generally is provided with a float and valve element designed to control the flow of liquid from the supply can so that a constant quantity is discharged. The float generally takes up a considerable space within the supply can and therefore the conventional type of flat bowl strainer is inadequate since it cannot be made large enough to ade quately accommodate the large amounts of milk which are delivered to the strainer unit. It is therefore a prime objectto provide an improved strainer assembly which can be supported on the inside of the can without interfering with any parts of the float structure, the strainer being large enough to accommodate and filter a large quantity or milk which is delivered thereto.

Still another object is to provide a strainer assembly for straining milk delivered to the supply can of a cream separator, the strainer assembly generally conforming to the contour of the supply can and having an opening in one side thereof for directing mill: outwardly toward the inner side of the supply can.

A still further object is to provide a strainer assembly for straining milk, the assembly including a side opening over which a substantially large filtering element may be clamped and including an improved clamping element for securely clamping the filtering element over the opening.

Still another object is to provide a strainer assembly having an opening in one side thereof, the opening normally being covered by a filtering cloth, the strainer further including a groove extending around the opening adjacent the edge of said opening, said groove being arranged to receive edges of the filtering element which are clamped in the groove by a detachable rod assembly having a configuration conforming to the shape of the groove, the rod assembly being flexible and being detachably connected within said groove.

A still further object is to provide a strainer assembly having a side wall provided with an opening, the wall including a. plurality of grooves which are interconnected and which extend about the opening, the groove being adapted to receive a plurality of interconnected rods which resiliently clamp edge portions of a filtering element within the grooves, and detachable means engaging the rods for normally clamping them in assembly with the casing.

These and further objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification when examined in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a cream separator supply can showing an associated float structure and a sectional view through a strainer ment with a strainer structure which is schematically shown.

Portions ofa cream separator structure II) are shown in Figure 1. The cream separator structure ill includes a conventional tinware construction II in which a separating bowl (not shown) is positioned. The tinware structure I I is supported on a housing I2 and a supply can I3 is supported above the tinware construction II. The supply can I3 includes a discharge spout I4 adapted to deliver liquid to the separating bowl which is enclosed within the tinware construction I I. A valve I5 is positioned within the supply can I3 the valve I5 being pivotally supported on brackets I 6 extending upwardly from the discharge spout I 4. A float I1 is connected to the valve I5, the float serving to move the valve in response to the decrease in the liquid level within the supply can for controlling the amount of liquid delivered to the discharge spout I4. The float construction may operate in a conventional manner for assuring that a constant quantity of milk is delivered to the separating bowl for separation.

As best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a. strainer structure is generally indicated by the reference character I9. The strainer structure I9 includes a casing 20 which is provided with a bottom wall 2 I, a rear wall 22 and a front wall 23. The bottom wall 2| is shaped in the form of an arcuate segment and the front Wall 23 is also of arcuate configuration to conform to the bottom wall ZI. The front wall 23 has its ends connected to the rear wall 22 as bestindicated in Figure 3. The shape of the strainer structure I9 is such that it conforms to the supply can It which is shown as being of a circular construction. As indicated in Figure 1 the strainer structure I9 is positioned on one side of the float I1 and valve I5, the spacrality of arms or clips which project outwardly V for engaging the edges of a supply can l3 as best indicated in Figure 1 to support the strainer structure |9 within the supply can |3.

A plurality of laterally spaced supports 26. are positioned across the opening 24; The supports 26 may be suitably secured at their upper ends to the front wall 23, the said supports 26 being,

provided at their lower ends with flanges 2T which may be suitably fastened to the bottomwall 2.1.

A pair of horizontal grooves 28 are formed in the front wall 23, the said grooves 28, being substantially parallel with respect to. each other, each groove being disposed on opposite sides of the opening 24. As best shown in Figure 1 the grooves 23 when viewed from. the inside of the strainer |9 have the appearance of beads. since the material of the front wall 23 is embossed inwardly to form said grooves. Thev horizontal grooves 23 are connected by a pair of vertical grooves 29 which are positioned on opposite sides of the opening 24. The connection of the grooves 29 with the grooves 28 actually provides a. rectangular continuous groove extending about the opening 24. The terms horizontal and vertical are utilized in a non-limiting sense for the purposes of description, the reference being to the normal position in which the strainer I9 is utilized as best indicated in Figure 1.

A filtering cloth 30 is positioned over the opening 24. The filtering cloth 39 consists of a porous fabric of a type which is particularly adaptable for filtering milk. The filtering cloth 3.0 is securely clamped over the opening 24 by means, of a clamping member or rod assembly 3|. The rod assembly 3i as best shown in Figure 2 includes a pair of substantially parallel rods 32 and 33 which are connected by means of laterally extending rods 34 and 35. The rods 34 and 35. are connected to the rods 32 and 33 by means of welds 36 as indicated. The rods 34 and are suitably spaced from the ends of the rods 32 and 33 to provide extensions 3! and 31. The rod assembly 3| is so formed that the rods 32 and 33 engage and are seated in the grooves 28 provided in the front wall 23 and the rods 34 and 35 suitably engage the grooves 29. Since edges of the filtering cloth 33 are positioned underneath the rod assembly 3|, the edges of the filtering cloth 39 are securely clamped and pressed in the grooves 28 and 29. Thus the filtering cloth 33 has all of its edges in secure clamping engagement with the front wall 23. Positioned at one end of the strainer structure I?! are a pair of vertically spaced ears or brackets 33, each of which is provided with an aperture 39. The extensions 31 of the rod assembly 3| engage the apertures 39 in telescoping relation. The aper-' tures 39 are suificiently large so that the clamping member or rod assembly 3| is suitably hinged on said cars 33. The rod 35 is provided with a bail shaped. portion 49 which is engaged by a spring clip 4| in turn connected to the casin 20. The spring clip 4|, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4, engages the bail shaped portion in a manner wherein the rods 32, 33, 34, and 35 are rigidly though detachably secured in the grooves and the filtering cloth is positively clamped over the opening 24.

As indicated in Figure 4 the rod assembly 3| is flexible in that all of the rods have a certain resiliency which causes the clamping member 3| to assume the position shown in Figure 4 when the spring clip 4| is released from the bail shaped portion 4|]. This resiliency of the rod assembly causes the filtering cloth to be firmly clamped in the grooves.

As indicated in Figure 1 the clips 25 serve to support the strainer structure IS on the casing 2c in a vertical position within the supply can l3. The strainer structure I9 is positioned to one side of the float I! in an out-of-the-Way position. The front wall 23 conforms generally to the" rounded or circular shape of the supply can |3 During operation of the strainer structure, whole milk is delivered to the strainer, this milk being discharged through the opening 24 and, through the filtering cloth 30. By virtue of the, large opening 24 a large quantity of liquid can be supplied to the strainer structure I9 and filtered promptly. The particular shape of the strainer structure and its side opening permits a maximum of filtering area to be utilized despite the lack of space within the supply can occasioned by the float l1 and valve |5.

By means of the novel clamping member or rod assembly 3| a large filtering cloth may be firmly clamped over the opening 24, the filtering cloth being suitably supported over the opening by means of the supports 25. All edges of the cloth. are rigidly secured within the grooves and any milk that passes through the opening 24 must pass through the filtering element 30. It can be seen by the novel arrangement as disclosed that the filtering cloth. 33 can be quickly replaced by simply unlatching the spring clip- 4| and by hinge ing the rod assembly 3| away from the front wall 23..

It i IIQW believed. h t. novel st ain r a emly has een. disc sed. the ass mbly ully achievnc all of the stated obje s. t u e in en stood that, changes. may be made in the design without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed nor the scope thereof as defined, in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A strainer assembly for cream separator p y a omp n a asing includin a bottom wall in the shapev of an arcuate segment, a rear wall projecting from the bottom wall and an arcuate front wall conforming to the shape of the bottom wall, said front wall having end portions connected to said r a wel sa d front wall including a liquid d schar e open n a u a it of lat ally spa ed upport o nected o th front w ll ove a d discharg Ope ing n.- nected to said iront wa l, sa d arnls p o e in outwardly from t e front. wa l an ada ted. w engage the rim f. a supply can f r s pp in th strain r assembly th r on. a r of sub tant ally parallel horizo ally extendin groo e te m i the front we a h erQQ e b in ositioned on opposite sides of said discharge'opening, a pair of vertically extending grooves formed in said front wall, said vertical grooves extending in substantially parallel relation, being positioned on opposite sides of the discharge opening and nn ctin the hor zont ll e tend n oove m ans for c amp a fil ri g lem nt ver sai ope in compris n a firs pair of late a l space ub t lly pa a lel flexible ods. a sccondpa of latera ly spaced su s ant ally para lel f exib d connected to the fi st ai 9f91 inward from the ends thereof, the rods being adapted to engage and conform to the horizontal and vertical grooves of the front wall for resiliently clamping edges of a filtering element in said grooves, a pair of vertically spaced ears projecting outwardly from the casing on one side of the opening, each of said ears having an aperture adapted, to receive the ends of the first rods in telescoping relation. and a spring clip connected to the casing on the opposite side of the opening for engaging one of the rods for retaining the clamping means in said grooves.

2. A strainer assembly for cream separator supply cans comprising a casing including a bottom wall, a rear wall projecting from the bottom wall and an arcuately shaped front wall connected to the bottom wall and to said rear wall, said front wall including a liquid dicharge opening, a plurality of laterally spaced supports connected to the front wall over said discharge opening, a pair of substantially parallel horizontally extending grooves formed in the front wall, each groove being positioned on opposite sides of said discharge opening, a pair of vertically extending grooves formed in said front wall, said vertical grooves extending in substantially parallel relation, being positioned on opposite sides of the discharge opening and connecting the horizontally extending grooves, means for clamping a filtering element over said opening comprising a first pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel flexible rods, 9, second pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel flexible rods connected to the first pair of rods, one of said second pair of rods being spaced inwardly from the ends of the first pair of rods, the rods being adapted to engage and conform to the horizontal and vertical grooves of the front wall for resiliently clamping edges of a filtering element in said grooves, a pair of vertically spaced ears projecting outwardly from the casing on one side of the opening, each of said ears having an aperture adapted to receive the ends of the first pair of rods in telescoping relation, and a spring clip connected to the casing on the opposite side of the opening for engaging one of the second pair of rods for retaining the clamping means in said grooves.

3. A strainer assembly for cream separator supply cans comprising a casing including a bottom wall, a rear wall projecting from the bottom wall and an arcuately shaped front wall connected to the bottom wall and to said rear wall, said front wall including a liquid discharge opening, a pair of substantially parallel horizontally extending grooves formed in the front wall, each groove being positioned on opposite sides of said discharge opening, a pair of vertically extending grooves formed in said front wall, said vertical grooves extending in substantially parallel relation, being positioned on opposite sides of the dischar e opening and connecting the horizontally extending grooves, means for clamping a filtering element over said opening comprising a first pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel flexible rods, a second pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel flexible rods connected to the first pair of rods, one of said second pair of rods being spaced inwardly from the ends of the first pair of rods, the rods being adapted to engage and conform to the horizontal and vertical grooves of the front wall for resiliently clamping edges of a filtering element in said grooves, a pair of vertically spaced ears projecting outwardly from the casing on one side of the opening, each of said ears having an aperture adapted to receive the ends of the first pair of rods in telescoping relation, and a spring clip connected to the casing on the opposite side of the opening for engaging one of the second pair of rods for retaining the clamping means in said grooves.

4. A strainer assembly for cream separator supply cans comprising a casing including a bottom wall, a rear wall projecting from the bottom wall and an arcuately shaped front wall connected to the bottom wall and to said rear wall, said front wall including a liquid discharge opening, a pair of substantially parallel horizontally extending grooves formed in the front wall, each groove being positioned on opposite sides of said discharge opening, a pair of vertically extending grooves formed in said front wall, said vertical grooves extending in substantially parallel relation, being positioned on opposite sides of the discharge opening and connecting the horizontally extending grooves, means for clamping a filtering element over said opening comprising a first pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel flexible rods, a second pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel flexible rods connected to the first pair of rods, one of said second pair of rods being spaced inwardly from the ends of the first pair of rods, the rods being adapted to engage and conform to the horizontal and vertical grooves of the front wall for resiliently clamping edges of a filtering element in said grooves, 21, pair of vertically spaced ears projecting outwardly from the casing on one side of the opening, each of said ears having an aperture adapted to receive the ends of the first pair of rods in telescoping relation, and means for detachably securing said clamping means in said. grooves.

5. A strainer assembly comprising a casing, a wall on said casing having a liquid. discharge opening, a first pair of grooves formed on opposite sides of said discharge opening in said wall, a second pair of grooves formed in said wall, said second pair of grooves extending laterally with respect to said first pair of grooves on opposite sides of the opening for connection with said first pair of grooves, means for clamping a filtering element over said discharge opening comprising a flexible generally rectangular rod assembly including a first pair of laterally spaced rod elements, a second pair of laterally spaced rod elements connected at their ends to the rod elements of the first pair to form a unitary structure, means hingedly connecting said rod assembly to said casing, and means on the casing detachably engaging said rod assembly for securing said rods in resilient clamping engagement with the edges of a filtering element and within said grooves, said means including a resilient latch element engaging one of the laterally spaced rod elements.

WILLIAM H. HARS'I'ICK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 323,780 Brown Aug. 4, 1885 370,870 Howard Oct. 4, 1887 718,367 Merritt Jan. 13, 1903 737,171 Szentjanossy Aug. 25, 1903 1,517,725 Gossman Dec. 2, 1924 1,530,411 Restchak Mar. 17, 1925 1,630,198 McMahon May 24, 1927 1,720,433 Parker July 9, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 101,771 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1916 

